Vent device for pneumatic elevators



Patented Mar. 7, I899.

- J. B. SCHUMAN.-

VENT DEVICE FUR PNEUMATIC ELEVATORS.

(Application filed May 18,1898.)

(No Model.)

. //v vEA/roh James-1513022, awn/am W/ TNE SSE S m: Norms FEYERS cc vuoTo-u'rnm, wumumcw, :1, cv

f NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES B. SCHUMAN, OF COLUMBIA CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PNEUMATIC ELEVATOR AND l/VEIGI-IER COMPANY, OF INDIANAPO- LIS, INDIANA.

VENT DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,854, dated March '7, 1899.

Application filed May 18,1898. Serial No. 681,028. (No model.)

" citizen of the United States, residing at Columbia City, in the county of Whitley and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vent Devices for Pneumatic Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that variety of apparatus whereby an accumulation of material in the boot of a pneumatic elevator may be discharged by the throwing-wheel as it starts into operation and any clogging of said throwing-wheel thus prevented.

It especially consists in certain improvements in the construction, arrangement, and

means of supporting the door to the ventopening, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the boot of a pneumatic elevator and a fragment of the elevator-tube; Fig. 2, a central sectional View of the same, on an enlarged scale, with the door to the vent-opening in its open position, as when the machineis at rest; Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the lower end thereof, a portion of the outside casing being broken away to show the parts beneath; Fig. 4, a sectional view as seen from the dotted line 4. 4 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a detail sectional View, on a still further enlarged scale, similar to a portion of Fig. 2, but showing the door to the vent-opening in its closed position, as when the machine is in operation and the door thus held closed by the internal pressure.

Except as to the vent-opening and door the apparatus herein shown and described is similar to the corresponding parts shown and described in Letters Patent No. 603,925, issued May 10, 1898, to the Pneumatic Elevator and Weigher Company upon my application. Some changes in proportion and mechanical construction have been made, as practical use has demonstrated the desirability of such changes as tending to greater efficiency; but as no other departures have been made from the construct-ion illustrated in said Letters Patent the apparatus as a whole will therefore not be further described herein except incidentally in describing my present invention.

Directly behind the elevating-fan or throwing-wheel B, and somewhat above the center thereof, is an opening in the casing A, and in this openingis pivoted the door C. The shaft S of this door is slightly below the center thereof, while the lower end of said door passes to the outside of the casing and the upper end to the inside, as shown most plainly in Fig. 2. The bearings a c for the shaft S are in the form of ears on the boot and on the door and are also slightly below the center of the opening which the door closes. Said bearings are preferably projected a short distance to the outside, so that the weight of the door may be andvpreferably is wholly inside the shaft or pivot on which the door turns. In operation, as will be readily seen, the weight of the door causes it .to stand at an angle, as shown in Fig. 2, thus leaving an opening from the interior of the casing to the outside. The upper or inwardly-projecting portion being the longest, however, and thus having the greatestsurface, the result is, when the machine is in operation and the fans running at their usual speed, that the air-pressure thus generated will serve to close said door, as shown in Fig. 5, and keep it closed so long as the pressure is maintained. When the machine is stopped, the door will automatically fall open. Suitable stops or prevent too great a movement. Any material which is fed into the throwing-wheel after its revolution has become tooslow to elevate it may therefore be discharged through the opening in question, so that said throwing-wheel can never become clogged. After a machine has been stopped the throwing-wheel will readily clear itself of the small amount of material which has fallen into the casing around it and will lift it out slowly through the opening below the door, and said opening will remain open until a sufficient speed has been attained to elevate the material properly, when, as above stated, the air-pressure will close the door, and thenceforward the machine will operate exactly as though no such door existed. The door may be caused to open more quickly and to remain open more persistently by the addition of a weight w to its upper portion, and such weight may be in parts and thus adjustable, so that any desired result may be had. This feature is of use, as some materials discharge more easily and freely than others, and with those which discharge least freely the additional weight is of most use.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a pneumatic elevator, with the elevating-fan or throwing-wheel, and its casing, said casing being provided with an opening in the rear side thereof, of a pivoted door positioned in said opening, the lower end of which passes to the outside of the casing and the upper end to the inside, the shafts or pivots on which said door is'mounted being slightly below the center thereof, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in a pneumatic elevator, of the elevating-fan or throwing-wheel, its casing or boot provided with an opening in the rear side thereof, a pivoted door positioned in said opening, ears extending out from the casing alongside said opening and from said door at a point slightly below the center thereof, and a pivot shaft passing through. said ears outside of said door, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, in a pneumatic elevator, of the throwing-wheel, its casing having a vent-opening therein, a pivoted door to said opening the pivot whereof is somewhat below the center, and the upper portion whereof is provided with a weight whereby-it is caused to open more quickly when the air-pressure is relieved, and to remain open more persistently against the effect of such pressure.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 12th day of May, A. D. 1898.

JAMES B. SOI-IUMAN. 

